Cover for Tablet Computer

1. A cover for a tablet computer, the cover comprising: a front board having an interior surface and an exterior surface; a back board having an interior surface and an exterior surface, wherein the back board includes a proximal section and a distal section, the two sections each having an interior and an exterior surface corresponding to the interior surface and exterior surface of the back board respectively, the two sections being hingedly attached to each other along a back board hinge axis; a spine board that is hingedly attached to the front board along a front-spine hinge axis and hingedly attached to the proximal section of the back board along a back-spine hinge axis, the front-spine hinge axis and the back-spine hinge axis being parallel to the back board hinge axis, so that in a closed configuration of the cover, the interior surface of the back board faces the interior surface of the front board, and in an open configuration the exterior surface of the back board faces the exterior surface of the front board; a cradle assembly having a front and a back, wherein the front of the cradle assembly is configured to releasably grip the tablet computer and a distal portion of the back of the cradle assembly is affixed to the interior surface of the distal section of the back board; a riser board having first and second edges, the first edge of the riser board being hingedly attached to a proximal portion of the back of the cradle assembly along a riser-hinge axis that is parallel to the back board hinge axis; and attachment means for removably attaching the second edge of the riser board to the proximal section of the back board, so that (i) when the second edge is thus attached, the cradle assembly is maintained at a positive acute angle relative to the proximal section of the back board, and (ii) when the second edge is not thus attached, the riser board may be rotated about the riser hinge axis to a position adjacent the back of the cradle assembly, thereby permitting the cover to assume the closed configuration.

2. A cover according to claim 1 , wherein the front board, the back board, the spine board, and the riser board comprise paperboard or foam.

3. A cover according to claim 1 , wherein each hinge attachment comprises paper.

4. A cover according to claim 1 , wherein the cradle assembly comprises injection-molded plastic.

5. A cover according to claim 1 , wherein the distal section of the back board has a width that is approximately two-thirds of a width of the proximal section of the back board.

6. A cover according to claim 1 , further comprising a stopper attached to the interior surface of the proximal section of the back board near the spine-back hinge axis.

7. A cover according to claim 1 , further comprising a metallic track affixed to the interior surface of the proximal section of the back board, and wherein the attachment means comprises a rigid flap hingedly attached to the second edge of the riser board upon which is affixed a magnet, so that when the magnet is aligned with the metallic track, a magnetic attraction is produced that is sufficient to resist relative movement between the rigid flap and the proximal section of the back board.

8. A cover according to claim 7 , wherein the positive acute angle of the cradle assembly relative to the proximal section of the back board is adjustable by moving the magnet along the metallic track, so that the angle is decreased by moving the magnet farther from the spine and the angle is increased by moving the magnet closer to the spine.

9. A cover according to claim 7 , further comprising a mechanical stop attached to the interior surface of the proximal section of the back board near the spine-back hinge axis, wherein when the second edge of the riser board is in contact with the mechanical stop, the magnet is aligned with the metallic track.

10. A cover according to claim 1 , wherein the attachment means comprise a mechanical stopper, a magnet, a clasp, a rivet, or an adhesive.

11. A cover according to claim 1 , further comprising a first magnet having a first polarity, that is affixed to the exterior surface of the front board, and a second magnet having a polarity opposite to the first polarity, that is affixed to the exterior surface of the back board, so that when the cover is in the open configuration, the first magnet and the second magnet are aligned to produce a magnetic attraction that is sufficient to resist relative movement between the front board and the back board.

12. A cover according to claim 1 , further comprising a magnet that is affixed to the interior surface of the front board, so that when the cover is closed, the magnet aligns with a sensor of the tablet computer, thereby activating the sensor.

13. A cover according to claim 1 , further comprising a wrapping that conceals the front board, the back board, and the spine board.

14. A cover according to claim 13 , wherein the wrapping comprises cloth.

15. A cover according to claim 14 , wherein an exterior surface of the wrapping is decorated with a pattern, a logo, or a pleasing image.